Distributor



`July 28, 1942. w. A. HOOVER v 2,290,966

DISTRIBUTOR y Filed July 10, 19.41 3 Sheets-Sheet l i l I .Wa'ffooverJuly 2s, 1942.v

DISTRIBUTOR Filed July l0, 1941 w. A. HoovER 3 -sheetsr-Sheec 2 July 28,1942. w. A. HoovER DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 e. a4 n fK f TM@ M. 6 z 4W z /af d 7 7 7 W x 5 7 M o 6 7 f w 7 a M 9 3 7 4.J

grime/wko@ Ill/H Patented July 28, 1942 UNETEDr TE ATEN'T FFICE 9Claims.

This invention relates to a powder distributor or spray gun, and moreparticularly to a distribu` tor which is adapted to be mounted on thedelivery of a printing press and actuated byfmechanism`forming a part ofthe press for intermittently discharging powder into a passage andconveying the powder by air pressure from a discharge Vpipe onto afreshly printed sheet which has been moved to a position on the deliveryof the press.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a noveldistributor for powder of simple construction and forming a unit whichcan be readily and removablyv mounted on the delivery of a press andwhich is provided with an operator attached toA the press Yand arrangedto be engaged by a movable -element thereof to intermittently agitatethe powder container of the distributor to cause a quantity of powder tobe discharged into the passage, and for also intermittently opening avalveof said passage to allow air under pressure to be admitted theretofor conveying the powder thus discharged from the container through thepassage.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide adistributor so constructed that conventional powder containing cans canbe mounted thereonV in an inverted position and which is provided with areciprocating rod,

forming the agitator, and which is actuated Vintermittently to striketheapertured cap of the powder can for agitating the can to dispense aquantity of powder therefrom.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide means for adjustablypositioning the agitator rod to cause the rod, when reciprocated, to

strike the discharge end of the powder container with varying amounts offorce to vary the amount of powder that willbe dispensed from thecontainer. l

Another aim of the invention is to provide a powder distributor having ablower driven Vby an electric motor for supplying air for conveying thepowder, said motor being provided with a shutoff switch, and a lever forshutting off the switch and for locking the other parts of thedistributor. for holding the valve in a closed position and forpreventing operation of the agitator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention l will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description ofthe drawings, whichillustrate a preferred-embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure l'is a side elevational view showing the distributor mounted onthe delivery of a convene Figure 5 is an enlarged vhorizontal sectionalvviewtaken substantially along the plane of the line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sec'- tional view takensubstantially along ythe plane of the line 6 6 of Figure 2',

Figure 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section of the automaticoperator which is adapted to be actuated by a conventional part of aprinting press for intermittently actuating the distributor or spraygun,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the dispensing endof the powdercan,

Figure 9 is a similar view of the dispensing end of another powder can,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalY view, partly in elevationof thev means for detachably retaining a powder can in an invertednposition on the distributor, and

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional View takenv substantially along theplane of the line Il-II of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly rto the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, H designates generally a portion of theY delivery of aconventional printing'press which is provided with a table I2 to receivefreshlyl printedsheets YI3, as they are discharged from the press andstacked on thetable or support l2 of the delivery Il. Y Y

The powder distributor or spray gun, designated generally i4 includes ahead portion, designated generally l5 having a lateral extension ,lwhichis provided with a perpendicular bore I7. A stud .|8, as best seen inFigure ,1, projects upwardly fromvthe deliveryv l I and is adapted to beengaged by the lower end of a tubular standard standard |9 to the studI8.

portion I6, which portion is provided with va set screw 2l forsecuringthe head l5 thereon. The

standard I9 forms the support for mounting the distributor or spray gunI4 on the delivery I I and thereabove.

The head I5 includes a main portion 22 which is provided with aremovable top plate 23 which extends from one end to adjacent theopposite end thereof and which is detachably mounted by fastenings 24,Portion 22 is provided with a horizontal bore 25 which extendslongitudinally therethrough and the plate 23 is provided with an opening26 which opens into the bore 25, intermediate of its ends, and which isadapted to receive a cap or discharge end 21 of a powder container orcan 28 which is mounted on the portion 22 and in an inverted position.Plate 23 is provided with a threaded opening 29 for receiving the lowerthreaded end of a rod 3D which projects upwardly from the head I5 andwhich is disposed adjacent to a portion of the side wall of the can 28.As seen in Figures 1 and 10, a lug 3I is provided with an opening 32which slidably engages the rod 36 and a set screw 33 for adjustablysecuring the lug 3l to the rod 38. Lug 3I is provided, at one endthereof, with a depending extension 34 which is adapted to engage theinner side of the rim 35 of the bottom of the can 28 to provide meansfor effectively holding the can in an inverted position and with its cap21 in engagement with the opening 26. Cap 21 is provided with apertures36 and, depending upon the amount of powder to be dispensed from thecontainer 28, cap 21 may be provided with four apertures 36, as seen inFigure 8, or a similar cap 21 having only two apertures 36 could beused. Likewise, the caps 21 could have one, three, or more than fourapertures 38 if desired, and said apertures could be made of varioussizes.

A pipe 31 has one end removably mounted in the discharge end 38 of thebore 25 and said end of the pipe 31 is secured in the discharge end 38by means of a set screw 39, as seen in Figure A3, which is mounted inthe portion 22. An elbow 49 is connected at one end thereof to theopposite end of the pipe 31 and has its opposite end directed andopening downwardly and above the stacked sheets I3, as seen in Figure 1.

The head I5 also includes a substantially flat horizontally disposedplate 4I through which project a plurality of fastenings 42 which areattached to the base 43 of an electric motor 44 which is supportedthereby in a depending position beneath the plate 4 I The electric motor44, which is of conventional construction, is connected by means ofwiring 45 to a source of electrie current, not shown, and said wiring isalso provided with a switch 43 adapted to be closed and opened forenergizing and deenergizing, respectively, the motor 44. A blower 41includes a casing 48 which is formed of detachable sides 49 and 59connected by nut and bolt fastenings 5I and an intermediate portion 52which is preferably Xedly connected to the inner side 49. The plate 4I,as seen in Figure 1, is provided with a depending flange portion 53, asseen in Figure 1, to which casing 48 is connected by certain of itsfastenings 5I.

A propeller, designated generally 54, is rotatably mounted in the casing48, The propeller 54 includes an outer disk 55 having a hub portion 56which is keyed to the driven shaft 51 of the motor 44, an inner ring 58,which is spaced from the outer portion of the outer disk 55, and aplurality of radially projecting vanes 59 which are disposed incircumferentially spaced relationship relatively to one another andwhich are connected along their side edges to the disk 55 and the ring58. The vanes 59, as best seen in Figure 4, are all curved similarly ina clockwise direction from their inner to their outer ends.

As seen in Figure 4, casing 48 is provided with an upwardly openingportion 88 formed by portions of the side walls 49 and 59 and by theends of the casing portion 52. The side 49 is provided with a centralopening 6I which opens toward the motor 44 and which forms the inlet ofthe blower casing 48. The outlet 60 communicates with the inner, inletend 62 of the Ibore 25 and also is provided with a restricted opening 63which opens outwardly of the top of the head I5 and beyond the rear endof the plate 23. A shaft 64 is journaled in the walls 49 and 58 andextends through the upper portion of the outlet 68. A valve 65 is keyedto the shaft 64 and is disposed in the outlet 69 and is arranged so thatwhen in a closed position, as seen in Figure 4, it will close theentrance end 62 of the bore 25, When thus positioned, as seen in Figure4, it will be readily apparent that the valve 65 will cause the air fromthe blower to pass upwardly and be discharged into the atmospherethrough the opening 63. The valve 65 is provided with a lug 66 whichprojects outwardly from its pivoted end and at substantially a rightangle to the plane of ,the valve. A set screw 61 is mounted in the rearend of the plate 23 and forms a stop to be engaged by the lug 66 tolimit the swinging movement of the valve 65 in a counterclockwise direc-Ition, as seen in Figure 4, and toward an open position. It will beapparent that the set screw 91 can be adjusted for varying the extent towhich the valve 65 can be movedtoward an open position, as indicated bythe arrow 68.

The head I5 includes a flange 69 which depends from the under part ofthe portion 22, adjacent the blower casing 48. A plate 10 is providedwith an angular end 1I which is attached to the outer side of the flange69, adjacent its lower end, by means of fastenings 12 for mounting theplate 1|] substantially at right angles to the flange 69. A flat bar 13is attached to the outer side of the flange 69, above the plate 19 by afastening 14 and is provided with an outwardly projecting free end 15which is disposed at an oblique angle to the plate 18, as best Seen inFigure 6. The plate 10, adjacent its free end, is provided with athreaded opening 16 to which is threadedly connected an externallythreaded sleeve 11.- The lower portion of the part 22 is provided with aperpendicular bore 18 which is in alinement with the bore of the sleeve11 for slidably engaging the upper end or stem 19 of an agitator,designated generally 80, which is provided at its lower end with a stem8I which slidably engages the bore of the sleeve 11. Between the stems19 and 8|, the agitator 89 is provided with an enlargement 82 and anenlargement 83, disposed beneath the enlargement 82 and which is of agreater diameter than the enlargement 82 to form at the top thereof anannular upwardly facing shoulder 84. The upper end of the stem 19 isadapted to engage against the underside of the cap 21 when the agitator80 is in a raised position, as seen in Figure 4, and when thuspositioned the upper end of the enlargement 82 is disposed slightlybelow the portion 22. An expansion coil spring is mounted on the stem 8|and has one end thereof bearing against the upper end of the sleeve 11and its opposite end bearing against the underside of the enlargement 83for normally holding the agitator '80 in araised position. A nut. viSCarriedby thesleeve 7 1, beneath the plate 10, andit will be readilyapparent that the sleeve 'H can be adjusted relatively to the opening lfor varying the tensionon the spring ,85. andthe nut 86 may be tightenedagainst the underside of the plate '|0 to hold the sleeve 'l'l inadjusted positions.

rAn L- shaped lever 8l, as best seen in Figures 2 and@ is provided withan enlarged inwardly projecting hub. portion. 88. at its apex throughwhichloosely extendsa pivot pin 89. Pivot. pin 89 extends into the sideof the headiportion A22, adjacent the discharge .end 3.8, andis Securedtherein by means of, a4 set Screw 90 for pivotally mounting the Alever8J on the side of the portion 2,2, opposite to the portion I5.'Ilhelever 81 is provided wth a longer substantially` horizontally.

disposed arm 8| kwhich extendstoward the blower 41 andY a shorter,r`depending arm .92 which is disposed substantially at a rightv angle tothe.

arnfilll,V A stop 953 projects outwardly from the portion 22 to engagetheunderside .of the `varm 9| to limit the swingingY movement. of thelever 81 in a clockwise direction,A as seen in Figure 2, and a similarstop 9d projects outwardly from the portion, 2,2 and` is disposed. toengage the upper vsideof the arm 9| to limit its swinging movement in acounterclockwise direction.

lheferringV to Figure 5, the ,depending arm 9.2 isY providedqadjacentits lower endjwith. an inwardly projecting flange 95 anda forwardlyprojecting lug which is providedwith a recess .91 on its inner side. Alever 98 is. pivotally connected at` one end thereof by means of a pivotpin 9,;9 to the upper side of. the flange e5 for piv. otally mountingthe lever 94 for swinging movement. in a horizontal plane. The lever 99is. a substantially fiat b-ar, as seen in Figure 6, and is provided withnotches |00 in one longitudinal edge thereof and adjacent itspivotedend,for seating one end of an expansion coil spring |0|, the Opposite end ofwhichis seated in the recess. 91 for urging the lever 98 to swing towardthe portion 212. Asseenin Figures and 6, the free end of the lever 98 isdisposed to engage against the inclined plate portion. Niwhichformsa camsurface and its intermediate portion adapted to rest on the shoulder d4.i

As seen inFigu re2icne end of the shaft B4 projects outwardly throughthe outer side 50 .of the casing d3 and a calmY member |02 is keyedthereto by meansv o fa set screw |03. The upward swinging* movement of,the caml member |02 in a clockwise direction, as seen in, Figure 2, islimited by a stop pin |04 which projects from aivportion of head I5. Theunder, roundedy side of the cam i 02 rests on the upper side ofthe arm9|, adjacent its free end. A leafspringw is attached to the upper sideofthe arm 9| at one end thereof by a fastening |05Y and projectstherefrom toward the free end of, the arm,9.|,. Thefree end of the leafSpring |05v engages Ythe upper side of the cam4 |02, for a purpose whichposed end of the shaft m9k and has itsup'per:end

bearingagainst. the underside of the head |0, andits lower end bearingagainst the upper end of the clamp; |01: for urging the lever arm 9|upwardly to thereby hold the parts 9B and |02 in the positions, as seenin Figure 2, in which positionsthe valve 65 is held in a closedposition,.as seen kin Figure 4, by the cam |02 and the agitator is heldin an elevated position, as seen in Figure 4 by its spring 8.5.

Referringv to Figure 7, the opposite end of the conduit'l 08 is securedina clamp 2 which forms a part of the plate! |.3 which is adapted to befastened to apart of the printing press, not shown. An angular lever||.4 is pivotally mounted at its apex by means of a. pin ||5 on theplate H3. One end ofthe lever lil is provided with a clamp portion MB.The opposite end of the flexible iaft '|39 projects through and `beyondthe last mentioned end of the conduit |00 andis clamped to the lever II4 by the portion I. A contractile coil spring i which is connected atone end to the plate l i3 and at its opposite end to the lever urges thelever I lli to swing in a direction for moving the flexible shaft M39,at its last mentioned end, inwardly of or toward the conduit |t8. Aroller i8 is journaled on the opposite end of the lever H4 and isdisposed to be engaged by an element H9, forming a conventional part ofthe printing press and which makes one revolution each time that a sheetI3 is discharged onto the table i2. The roller H8 is normally held bythe lil in the path of movement ofthe element |59 to be engaged therebyat each revolution thereof for rocking the lever ||4 for moving the lastmentioned end of the shaft IES outwardly of the conduit |08, and it willbe readily apparent that after the roller lil moves out of engagementwith the element ||9 the spring ii? will return the parts to thepositions, as seen in Figure 7.

The switch i6 is supported by a bracket |20, as best seen in Figure 2,which is attached to the plate @E by fastenings |2i and which projectsoutwardly therefrom. The switch 4% is provided with a throw arm oroperator |22 which projects upwardly from the bracket lZ. A lever |25 ispivot ally mounted intermediate of its ends on the plate di by means ofa pin or bolt |2. A link |25 is pivotally connected at one end thereofat |26 to 1e lever 23, adjacent its pivot 24. The link |25 is providedwith an opening |2l', adjacent its free end, which loosely engages overthe operator |22. A plate |28 is attached to and projects laterally fromthe forward end of the lever |23 to form a stop.

In Figures 2 and 3, the lever |23, which controls the operation of thespray gun or distributor I4 is shown in a released position and in whichposition the switch 4S is closed. By swinging the lever |23 in aclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, the link |25 will be moved tothe left to swing the operator |22 to the left to open the switch 46 todeenergize the motor 44, and the stop |28 will be moved into a positionbetween the cam |02 and the arm 9| to prevent the cam |.i2 from swingingdownwardly for opening the valve 55 and to prevent the lever 5l fromswinging upwardly to its |23 is, inY its position of Figure andthereforev while the motor 44 is in operation. Referring to Figures 5and 6, when the lever 81 is thus moved n a clockwise direction, thelever 98 will be swung downwardly and as it is engaging the shoulder 84it will draw the agitator 80 downwardly. The free end of the lever 98 byengagement with the cam surface will be swung outwardly as it movesdownwardly against the action of the spring ||l| so that after the lever98 has moved a predetermined distance it will swing on its pivot 93suiiciently to move out of engagement with the shoulder 84 to allow thespring 85, which has thus been compressed, to drive the agitator 80upwardly to cause the stem 19 to strike the cap 21. The impact of theblow of the stem 19 will agitata the container 28 to cause a quantity ofthe powder |29 contained in the container 28 to be dispensed through theapertures 36 and into the bore 25. It will be readily obvious that, aspreviously explained, the amount of powder dispensed by the agitator 8|)can be varied by adjusting the sleeve 11 to vary the force with whichthe stem 19 strikes the cap 21. Also, the amount of powder to vbedispensed can be controlled by providing the cap 21 with more or lessapertures 36, as previously explained, and as illustrated in Figures 8and 9. At the same time that the agitator 88 is being moved downwardly,the lever arm SI is moving downwardly and away from the cam |82 so thatits spring |05 can swing the cam |82 in a counterclockwise direction, asseen in Figure 2, for swinging the gate valve B5 in the same directionfor moving it to an open position to allow the air from the propeller ofthe blower 41, which is revolving in a clockwise direction, as seen inFigure 4, to be admitted to the bore 25 so that when the powder isdispensed into the bore 25 it will be conveyed by the air through thebore 25, through the pipe 31 outwardly and downwardly through the elbow4 to be discharged onto the uppermost freshly printed sheet I3 which hasjust been stacked on the table or support l2 in a conventional manner bythe printing press.

After the element ||9 has moved out of engagement with the roller I8,the springs |1 and will slide the flexible shaft |619 in a directiontoward the lever 81 to allow the lever to swing in a counterclockwisedirection, as seen in Figure 2, by the action of the spring back to itsoriginal position. This will cause the cam |02, by

engagement with the lever arm 9|, to be turned in a clockwise directionfor similarly turning the valve 65 to return said valve to a closedposition, as seen in Figure 4, so that the air from the blower 41 cannotbe admitted to the bore 25 but will be discharged into the atmospherethrough the opening 63. At the same time, the lever 98 will be swungupwardly and as it moves upwardly its inner edge will slidably engage aYportion of the periphery of the enlargement 83. As the lever 98approaches its uppermost position it will move to the position above thelevel of the upper end of the enlargement 83 at which time its springwill swing the lever 98 inwardly to return it to the position, as seenin Figures 5 and 6. In this position, lever 98 will be resting on ordisposed above the shoulder 84 for drawing the agitator 80 downwardlythe next time that the element ||9 contacts the roller ||8.

It will thus be apparent that the distributor or spray gun I4 isoperated automatically for Spraying powder on each freshly printed sheetI3 after it is conveyed by the printing press to the delivery and thatthe operation of the spray gun or distributor |4 is automatic andintermittent.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, provided they fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, as only apreferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A powder distributor comprising a head having a bore extendinghorizontally therethrough and adapted to be connected to a source of airsupply, said head being provided with an opening adapted to receive theapertured cap of a powder container, said opening communicating with theupper portion of the bore and opening outwardly of the top of the head,the powder container being adapted to be supported in an invertedposition on the head, a rod having a restricted stem at its upper endslidably mounted perpendicularly in said head and extending transverselythrough said bore, the free end of said stem engaging against saidapertured cap, springmeans for urging said rod upwardly, and means forperiodically drawing the rod downwardly and releasing the rod to allowthe spring means to project the rod upwardly to cause the stem to strikethe apertured cap for agitating the container for dispensing the powderinto said bore.

2. A distributor as in claim 1, said means comprising a pivotallymounted lever, said rod being provided with an upwardly facing shouldernear its lower end, a spring for urging the free end of said lever toswing toward said rod to position a portion of the lever above saidshoulder, a cam element mounted on said head and disposed to be engagedby the free end of said lever, and means for swinging said leverdownwardly to cause it to engage said shoulder for drawing the roddownwardly, the free end of said lever engaging said cam during itsdownward motion and being swung thereby in a direction away from therod, as said lever is swung downwardly, for moving the lever out ofengagement with the shoulder when the parts have reached a certainposition on their downward movement.

3. A distributor as in claim l, comprising a valve mounted at the inletend of said bore and connected to said means to be moved to an openposition when said rod is drawn downwardly.

4. A distributor as in claim 1, comprising a blower provided with acasing having a discharge opening connected to the inlet end of saidbore and providing the source of air supply for the distributor.

5. A powder distributor comprising a head having a bore `extendingtherethrough and provided with means for supporting a powder containerin an inverted position on the head and with its discharge end openinginto said bore, a blower connected to the inlet end of said bore, avalve for controlling the passage of the air to the bore, areciprocating rod slidably mounted in said head and extending upwardlythrough the bore for engaging the outlet end of said container, springmeans for urging said rod upwardly, and intermittently actuated meansfor moving said rod downwardly and for simultaneously opening saidvalve.

6. A distributor as in claim 5, comprising an electric motor for drivingthe blower, said motor being provided with a shutoff switch, a controllever pivotally mounted on the distributor and provided with a linkconnected to said switch for opening or closing the switch when thecontrol lever is actuated, and a stop element projecting from one end ofsaid control lever and arranged to engage said means, when the switch isin an off position, for preventing said rod and valve from beingactuated.

'7. A distributor as in claim 5, comprising a conduit connected at oneend to the outlet end of said bore and projecting outwardly from thehead, said conduit being provided with an opposite downturned dischargeend from which the air `and powder is discharged.

8. A distributor as in claim 5, said means including a pivotally mountedarm, a rocker arm remotely disposed relatively to the distributor andadapted to be disposed in the path of and to be engaged by a moving partof a printing press for intermittently actuating said rocker arm, saidarm and rocker arm being provided with connecting means for moving saidarm downwardly, when said rocker arm is actuated for actuating said rodand for opening the valve, and spring means for returning said rod toits normal position and for closing said valve.

9. A distributor as in claim 5, comprising a sleeve member in which saidrod is slidably mounted, said sleeve member being adjustable and movabletoward and away from said head for adjustably positioning the rodrelatively to the discharge end of said container for varying the forcewith which said rod will strike the container.

WILLIAM A. HOOVER.

